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How do we deal with monuments that commemorate problematic histories and problematic historical figures? It’s a debate that has gotten quite heated in recent weeks, and as museum professionals, the Museum Chat Live! podcast team thought we’d weight in.
In this podcast episode, we ask a lot of questions about monuments, public memory, and how Canadians can reconcile difficult colonial histories. We also do not come up with firm answers, but we figure that’s OK too.
Very special thanks to Dr. Paul Litt at Carleton University for taking the time to join our conversation and add his insight.
We hope this episode leaves you with some new questions to think about. We would love to hear what you have to say. Please comment below or tweet us @stcmuseum.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with fellow history-lovers, friends, and family.
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Footnotes
- Senator Murray Sinclair’s conversation on CBC’s As It Happens: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-tuesday-edition-1.4266662/debate-over-john-a-macdonald-s-name-not-what-reconciliation-is-all-about-says-murray-sinclair-1.4269327
- News article detailing the petition to remove the John A. Macdonald statue in Regina: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/petition-remove-john-a-macdonald-statue-regina-1.4266149
- News article detailing the protest of the Cornwallis monument in Halifax: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cornwallis-statue-halifax-protest-removal-1.4206909
- News article detailing the removal of Cornwallis’ name from a Church in Halifax: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cornwallis-street-baptist-church-new-name-1.4032034
- For more on the Fallen Workers Memorial: http://www.stcatharines.ca/en/governin/fallen-workers-memorial.asp
- For descriptions of the Colonel By statue and Celtic Cross memorial in Ottawa’s Major Hill Park (as well as other markers on the Rideau Canal): http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/history/memorials.html